18-Sep
On our way to the Dead Sea we stopped to enjoy the view over the Dana Valley. We were 1600 metres above sea level and the view was amazing. They even get some snow in this area that attracts visitors from Saudi Arabia, where they never see snow.
We continued our journey to drop from 1600 metres above to 420 metres below sea level. Our bus took the scenic route and the views were fantastic.
At the bottom of the valley, there were quite a few farms. They get there water from the surrounding mountains and grow anything that needs a lot of sun. Temperatures get in the high forties to low fifties here during summer.
We arrived at our beautiful Dead Sea Spa Resort, just for one night so no unpacking any more till I get home.
A spectacular natural wonder, the Dead Sea, located 430 meters below sea level, is perfect for wellness tourism and family fun in the sun. The leading attraction at the Dead Sea is the warm, soothing, super salty water itself – some ten times saltier than sea water, and rich in chloride salts of magnesium, sodium, potassium, bromine, and several others. Additionally, the atmospheric oxygen concentration at the Dead Sea is higher than in most other places on Earth, contributing to its health benefits.
“Swimming” is a weird experience, you almost float on top of the very salty water. Off course, we all muddied up as we were promised it would rejuvenate us at least 15 years ☺️
As you can see from my altitude meter, we are indeed at the lowest point on earth, some 430 metres below sea level. The Dead Sea has shrunk a lot over the last 25 years. Most of this is caused by local industries that extract potassium and other minerals from the water with little consideration for the impact on the environment.
There’s something surreal about standing by the Dead Sea, gazing across to Jerusalem just a few kilometres away, while knowing that only 300 kilometres beyond, the war in Gaza rages on.